We provide a bridge home- so as a new mother, you know you are not alone.

It may feel hopeless, but with treatment, you will recover

Our Mission

For many postpartum women, traveling to see a therapist for support is just too difficult. This unique service allows us to reach out and provide a bridge connecting the support of the maternity unit to the client’s home and family.

We are passionate about making treatment accessible to women in crisis, and women at risk for perinatal mood disorders. As clinicians with specialities in maternal mental health, we have extensive training and experience treating women who struggle, whether it be during pregnancy or postpartum.

We offer up to three IN-HOME psychotherapy consultations, helping to transition mom and baby to a longer term supportive office based therapy with one of our experienced clinicians.

Our Services

Our services can be accessed in several ways. We may be contacted by a member of your care team during your maternity stay. With your permission they can make a referral and provide intake information and presenting concerns. We also welcome self referrals; new mothers may be unsure what to make of their feelings and may wish to to have a thorough assessment done to better understand if they are at risk for PPD. And, we also accept referrals from family members, friends and your health care professionals.

When we visit you in your home we provide support and reassurance while we get to know you and what you are experiencing. We also get a mental health history in order to provide a clear diagnosis. With a client’s consent we often ask family to join a part of a session as they may offer helpful observations concerns.

While our assessment continues throughout the 3 sessions we work with our client on specific wellness goals to focus on. We educate both the client and her family about maternal mood disorders, and we provide reassurance that treatment leads to recovery.

During the 3rd session we work together to make a plan of care so that treatment can continue if it is indicated. We offer options for treatment and help you choose a treatment that is right for you.

We work closely with Psychiatrists specially trained in reproductive mental health and make referrals when indicated. And we work as a team so that we are all aware of the care plan and are on the same page.

Maternal Mental Health

As many as 15 to 20% of women experience significant symptoms of depression or anxiety when becoming a parent. These illnesses are treatable. We can help. There is no need to continue to suffer alone. There are a number of helpful and evidenced based treatments to help you feel better.

Perinatal Depression

Depression can occur during pregnancy (antepartum) or following child birth (postpartum) and is more common than people realize.

Approximately 15% of women experience postpartum depression and 10% experience depression during pregnancy. Perinatal depression is the most common complication of childbirth.

Symptoms

Symptoms can begin during pregnancy or within the first year following childbirth. They can include:

Feelings of anger or irritability

Crying and sadness

appetite and sleep disturbance

Lack of interest in baby

Feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness

Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy

Possible thoughts of harming yourself

Risk Factors

Certain factors put you at a greater risk for developing perinatal depression. Being aware of these factors can help you plan ahead by informing your medical provider.

a personal or family history of depression and anxiety

Premenstrual Dyshphoric Disorder (PMDD) & Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Lack of a support system

Having multiples

Complication in pregnancy, birth or nursing

Infertility treatments

baby in NICU

Financial stressors

marital complications

major life events such as a move, a death, a job loss.

Perinatal Anxiety

Approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women experience perinatal anxiety. Anxiety can be experienced by itself or can be mixed with depression.

Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Postpartum OCD is quite misunderstood and often misdiagnosed. It can be diagnosed alone or as a symptom of postpartum anxiety. As many as 3-5% of new mothers experience these frightening, intrusive and repetitive thoughts. They can be quite graphic and disturbing and many new mothers avoid sharing them out of shame and fear. These images are not delusional and relate to the need to avoid feared causes of potential harm to the baby.

Symptoms

Obsessions- these are intrusive thoughts or images which can be persistent and repetitive and are related to the baby. They can cause great upset and fear.

Compulsions are rituals done over and over again in an effort to reduce the obsessions. This may include avoidance or repetitive washing and checking.

Fear of being left alone with baby

Hypervigilance about protecting baby

Risk Factors

Those with a history of anxiety or OCD are at a greater risk for PPOCD.

Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PPTSD can be caused by a traumatic or complicated childbirth experience. Symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma and avoidance of related events.

Symptoms

Intrusive re-experiencing of the traumatic birth experience

Flashbacks or nightmares

Avoidance of anything associated with the birth; this can include the baby or partner

Irritability, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance

Anxiety and panic attacks

Feeling a sense of unreality and detachment

Approximately 9% of women experience postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth. Generally, this illness is caused by a real or perceived trauma during delivery or postpartum. These traumas could include:

Unplanned or emergency C-section

Use of vacuum or forceps in delivery

Baby going to NICU

Feelings of powerlessness and/or lack of support during the delivery

a history of trauma, such as rape or sexual abuse

the experience of a severe physical complication during pregnancy or childbirth

Postpartum Bipolar Mood Disorder

Bipolar mood disorder consists of episodes of depression, mixed with episodes of mania or hypomania. Some women are diagnosed for the first time with bipolar depression or mania during pregnancy or postpartum.

Bipolar mood disorder can appear as a severe depression; It is important to examine a woman’s history to assess for any episodes of mania.

For many women, pregnancy or postpartum might be the first time she realizes that she has bipolar mood cycles.

Symptoms

Periods of severely depressed mood and irritability

Mood much better than normal

decreased need for sleep and consistent high energy

Racing thoughts, trouble concentrating, rapid speech

Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility

Grandiose thoughts, inflated sense of self-importance

In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations

Risk Factors

Risk Factors for Bipolar Mood Disorder are family or personal history of bipolar mood disorder (also called manic-depression).

It is essential to consult an informed professional with experience in postpartum mental health assessment and treatment.

Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum Psychosis is a separate and very rare illness. It occurs in approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries. The onset is usually very rapid, most often within the first 2 weeks postpartum.

PPP sufferers sometimes see and hear voices or images that others don’t, known as hallucinations. They may believe things that aren’t true and distrust those around them. They may also have periods of confusion and memory loss, and seem manic. This severe condition is dangerous, so it is important to seek help immediately.

Symptoms

Delusions or strange beliefs

Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)

Feeling very irritated, hyperactivity

Decreased need/ability for sleep

Paranoia and suspiciousness

Rapid mood swings

Difficulty communicating at times

The most significant risk factors for postpartum psychosis are a personal or family history of bipolar disorder, or a previous psychotic episode.

A woman experiencing psychosis is experiencing a break from reality. Immediate treatment is imperative.

Postpartum psychosis is temporary and treatable with professional help, but it is an emergency. If you feel you or someone you know may be suffering from this illness, know that it is not your fault and you are not to blame. Call your doctor, go to an emergency room, or call an emergency crisis hotline immediately.

Help in an Emergency

Emergency Hotlines are available all the time. It is very important that you reach out right now and find the support and information you need to be safe.

Researchers are still unsure of the exact etiology or cause of postpartum depression. It appears to be a confluence of factors that varies from individual to individual. Some factors that are known to contribute are:

“While many diverse cultures have given women ample time, nurturing and encouragement as they grow into the role of new mother, women in 1990’s America are often expected to make this transition almost instantly, and largely without much recognition or support…

Basically, your needs as a new mother would seem simple to define:

rest so you can heal;

gentle education and reassurance as you gain confidence in your mothering skills;

nourishing food and drink for yourself;

a relinquishing of practical chores to someone else so you can withdraw into yourself and your baby;

knowledge about what is going on with your body and spirit;

some realistic images and guideposts about the range of feelings other women have experienced postpartum;

a place to ‘debrief’ and talk about the birth itself and your emotions; and most especially, some mothering for yourself, so you can feel protected, honored and continually replenished at a time when many women say they feel as if they have been forgotten, peripheral, or ‘running on empty’.”

Mothering the New Mother (1994).
Placksin, S. New Market Press, NY

About Us

Kira Bartlett, PsyD

Dr. Kira Bartlett is a NYS licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of successful clinical experience with individuals and groups in psychotherapy. She maintains private practices in White Plains and NYC, specializing in perinatal mood disorders. Dr. Bartlett provides training and in-services for professionals and agencies interested in screening for postpartum mood disorders. Dr. Bartlett is a member of NYSPA, Postpartum Support International, the Postpartum Resource Center of New York and is the president of the Hudson Valley Birth Network. She is also a volunteer on the PSI Warmline and occasional blogger for PSI.

Lauren Safran, LCSW

Lauren Safran is a licensed clinical social worker with a speciality in the treatment of perinatal mood disorders. She maintains a private practice in Harrison, NY where she provides individual and family therapy, and runs a postpartum mood disorder support group. Ms. Safran has been a NYS coordinator for Postpartum Support International for the past 8 years. She presents to health care facilities and parent organizations to increase awareness and understanding of perinatal mood disorders. Ms. Safran has extensive experience in crisis therapy in her current practice and previously at the Mt. Sinai Hospital ER. She is a member of NASW, Hudson Valley Birth Network, and the Postpartum Resource Center of NY.

Consultants

Catherine Daniels-Brady, MD

Dr. Daniels is a psychiatrist with a strong interest in treating emotional symptoms related to women’s reproductive events across the lifespan, and mental health disorders in adults with various chronic or complex medical conditions. Dr. Daniels has extensive experience treating patients with mood and anxiety disorders, and helping patients make needed lifestyle changes.

Dr. Daniels graduated with honors from Northwestern University and received her medical degree from The University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed her training at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, and Bellevue Hospital. Dr. Daniels is board-certified in both Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, the field of psychiatry that deals with the interface between physical and emotional symptoms. Dr. Daniels is on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai, and the New York Medical College. She is active in teaching, clinical work, and research.